Proposal management software must handle the pressure of high-stakes deadlines, hundreds of contributors, and zero tolerance for version errors. infoRouter is the system that Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Rockwell Collins chose to manage exactly that.
Key Takeaways
- Lockheed Martin used infoRouter proposal management software to manage proposals with hundreds of contributing engineers.
- Proposal management software with check-in/check-out version control eliminates configuration control failures that can disqualify billion-dollar submissions.
- infoRouter's workflow engine manages formal review stages with automatic document locking during review.
- Teams using infoRouter for proposal management report fewer errors, faster review cycles, and consistent version control across all contributors.
Situation
Defense and aerospace contractors produce proposals that run tens of thousands of pages. At Lockheed Martin, large teams of engineers contributed sections of a single proposal. Every section had to comply with RFP requirements, maintain consistent formatting, and go through multiple review cycles before final submission.
Complication
Without disciplined version control, a proposal this size generates chaos. Conflicting edits overwrite each other. Reviewers comment on outdated drafts. Sections fail RFP compliance checks that could disqualify the entire submission. When proposals are worth billions of dollars, a configuration control failure is not just embarrassing. It is disqualifying.
Solution
infoRouter provided the backbone for the entire proposal development lifecycle:
- Templates created the folder structure and directive documents for each proposal instantly, giving teams a ready-made backbone from day one
- Folder Rules enforced configuration management by controlling who could edit, when editing was locked, and what format standards applied
- Version control with check-in/check-out ensured every contributor worked from the current document and every change was tracked
- Workflow engine managed the formal review stages. When folders were submitted to a workflow, all documents locked automatically to prevent edits during review
- Automatic notifications kept hundreds of team members informed of status changes, deadlines, and review outcomes
Result
"Tremendous improvement in our workflow. Mistakes are down to a minimum. We can now get much more done in far less time."
- Glen Marshall, Lockheed Martin Graphics & Proposal Development Center
"I have just completed my first proposal using infoRouter and the system is fantastic. It allowed us to make sure we had the latest and greatest copy of everything. It eliminated configuration control problems. The engineers love it."
- John J. Meehan, Rockwell Collins Proposal Center
Across multiple defense contractors managing proposals of 10,000 to 55,000 pages with hundreds of contributing engineers:
- Configuration control failures eliminated. The version confusion and unauthorized edits that previously caused compliance issues were no longer possible once documents locked automatically during review workflows.
- Review cycle throughput increased. Automated workflow routing replaced manual coordination across hundreds of engineers, compressing the time between review stages.
- Zero ambiguity about current versions. Every contributor worked from the same controlled version of the proposal, enforced by check-in/check-out and workflow locking.
- Scalable across contractors. The same approach worked at Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman, each adapting the workflow to their review requirements while maintaining the same document control discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does infoRouter prevent version conflicts when hundreds of people are editing the same proposal?
- infoRouter uses check-in/check-out version control. Only one contributor can edit a document at a time, and every change is tracked. This eliminates conflicting edits and ensures everyone works from the current version.
- What happens to documents during the review stage?
- When folders are submitted to a workflow for review, all documents lock automatically. This prevents any edits during the review cycle and ensures reviewers are commenting on a stable version.
- Can infoRouter set up the folder structure for a new proposal automatically?
- Yes. infoRouter's Templates feature creates the complete folder structure and directive documents for each proposal instantly, giving teams a ready-made backbone from day one.
- Which organizations have used infoRouter for proposal management?
- Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Rockwell Collins have all used infoRouter to manage large-scale proposals with hundreds of contributors.
- How does infoRouter keep large proposal teams informed of changes and deadlines?
- Automatic notifications keep all team members informed of status changes, deadlines, and review outcomes without requiring manual communication.
See How infoRouter Can Work for You
Whether your proposals are 50 pages or tens of thousands, infoRouter gives your team the version control and review discipline that wins bids.